Track and Field, Athlete, 2016 |
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Tara Self’s (nee Perry) passage into the world of track and field came naturally, as the Coquitlam native is the daughter of Coquitlam Sports Hall of Fame member Percy Perry (deceased) and Wilma Perry.
In a span of 10 years, Self-competed for Canada in every major sprinting championship, including the 1996 Atlanta and 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. As well as representing Canada in relay, she raced the women’s 200m in Atlanta, posting a 23.46 time.
Prior to her Olympic debut, she advanced to the quarterfinals of the IAAF World Junior championships in Korea in 1992 in the 100-metre dash. At the 1999 world championships she was a key member of Canada’s 6th place finish in the 4×100 relay, finished 4th at the World University Games in the women’s 100m, and was the Canadian junior and Canada Games champion, while placing top-three 10 times at the senior national championships.
Her route to the Sydney Olympics saw the 5-foot-7 sprinter place second overall nationally in the 100m and fourth in 200m. Self-established her 100m personal best of 11.38 seconds in 2000, months after establishing her 200m best time of 23.42.She has shared her passion for track and field by coaching athletes – many who have gone on to chart national and international achievements – at the Coquitlam Cheetahs Track and Field Club at Town Centre.